Sanctuary Paradise

Chapter 869 Temporary Rest
The Abyss Erosion Zone, the Deep Zone, the Hidden Land.

A dense darkness surged from the narrow, nest-like space, and from within the cocoon woven of jet-black threads, a languid moan, alluring and numbing to the very bones, suddenly rang out:
"Hmm~ It seems I had a nice but somewhat terrible dream?"

As the alluring moans subsided, the mixed-race beauty, immersed in the dark liquid, opened her eyes. After savoring the memories that had come from before her avatar's destruction, a playful glint flashed in her seductive eyes.

"Netherworld Prison... Heh, it's been a long time since I've seen such an interesting fellow."

After pondering for a moment, Ivy chuckled softly, a burning gaze filled with desire and predation flashing in her eyes.

For her, who possesses the bloodlines of both gluttony and lust, devouring for the purpose of indulgence is almost an instinct etched into her original blood.

While both involve indulgence, compared to the blood servants kept in the clan who were only servile, it was the object that could violate her with a cold gaze as if looking at a corpse at any time that made her feel the most hot and eager.

"It's a pity that it was disrupted in the end... However, being able to witness the legendary 'Netherworld' is not without its rewards."

Ivy Shal lowered her alluring eyes, a glint of malice flashing in her pupils. Her fingertips involuntarily traced their way along her body, as if savoring the feeling of her avatar being destroyed.

"I never imagined... that a single strike from such a great distance could instill fear in me?"

Ivy murmured, looking down at her slightly trembling hands, her gaze shifting slightly.

Netherworld.

Although she had heard from the clan's prophet that the other party had appeared and joined the elemental side, she understood even more why the clan's elders valued the prophecy so much after actually seeing the other party in person.

That kind of power is something that no living being can possess. The fear that comes from the source blood is something that is much older and more ancient than the so-called demonic blade and calamity lightning in the bloodline memory.

"Heh, whatever, it's not something I should be worrying about anyway..."

Whether it's the final tribulation or the eternal destruction, these are not things she should care about.

All she had to do was follow the desires in her blood and, incidentally, carry out the instructions given by those old guys.

"However, I still feel a little uneasy..."

Ivy murmured, glancing at the cocoon-like object beneath her, a hint of doubt appearing in her alluring eyes.

Although she wasn't interested in the grand plans that the elders in the clan talked about every day, to be honest, there were too many strange things about this situation.

Putting aside the corrupted pawn, how exactly did their clan's elders know the method to move that forbidden realm that no one dared to touch...?

And the instructions those old guys gave her and Goldra were also like that. They were supposed to adapt to the situation while confirming that the Forbidden Realm had successfully reached the Astral Plane, but after coming to her senses, she always had the feeling that her actions were all being guided by others...

Especially that prey that just happened to block her path—at first glance, there seems to be nothing wrong with it, but upon closer inspection, was it really just a simple coincidence that she bumped into it...?

Even now, she still couldn't understand why those old fogies in her clan would suddenly issue such strange orders. They sent her to secretly guide that abandoned child, and they sent her avatars to act as the situation dictated. If it was for revenge against the Astral Plane or to gather intelligence, then this outcome…

rustle--!!

Inside the cocoon-like device, the beautiful woman was deep in thought. Just as the doubt in her eyes reached a certain depth, a barely perceptible sound of pages turning suddenly rang out, causing her gaze to freeze for several seconds before gradually returning to its original brightness.

"Um, what was that...?"

A few seconds later, Ivy Shal, now fully conscious, stared blankly at herself sitting in the bathtub-like device, trying to think of something, but vaguely remembered encountering the legendary Netherworld before her avatar died, and feeling a deep-seated fear from it.

Strange, why do I feel like I just overlooked something?
After a brief moment of thought, the unease in her mind gradually dissipated. Ivy looked at her alluring, snow-white body, frowned in thought for a while, then gently shook her head, stood up from the cocoon-like device, and walked out of the nest with cat-like steps.

Well, it's probably just some aftereffects of death. I'd better go report to those old guys first, so I don't have to endure their nagging anymore.

……

The void, the place where stars have fallen.

"Has no one ever told you that your smile is disgusting?"

A cold, detached voice echoed from the darkness. Under the fragmented starry sky, a man in a clean suit glanced at the white-robed scholar beside him and said in a cold voice.

"To me, that's a nice compliment."

Faced with the sarcastic remarks from the man in the suit, the scholar in the white robe simply smiled slightly, then turned his gaze into the distance without a care.

What a complete monster...

Seeing the other party's reaction, the man in the suit merely glanced at the antique notebook floating in mid-air beside him, gazing at the starlight flowing across it and the 'voluntary' content that appeared, without saying anything.

Although the outside world has always portrayed him in a positive light, he, who has 'voluntarily' done many things for him, knows very well that the monster in front of him may be described as a 'good person' in terms of his position, and there are indeed countless people who have been saved because of him, but in terms of his methods, he is definitely a madman who is more terrifying than any demon or evil person in the world.

Or rather, to those who stood in his way, the man before them was the most extreme and insane demon in the entire star system.

Collaborating with violators, forcing the original sin to comply, secretly manipulating the abyssal race, and using cataclysms to allow those with potential to complete their transformation... Behind the so-called golden age of starlight is nothing more than an absolutely rational monster in human skin.

"I'm curious, will these people really forgive your actions when they grow up?"

"If that opportunity really comes, that would be wonderful, after all, it would mean that they survived to that time."

The scholar in white robes smiled and gazed at the distant scene. His gray-white pupils reflected countless moving images, like a god without joy or sorrow looking down upon the world.

That's right. Whether it's accusations or resentment, as long as he can get past that juncture, his fate is not important.

Even now, the methods of escapism may temporarily avoid those pains, but in terms of fate, they will only bring greater suffering in the future.

"At least, for me right now, I can see it."

Yes, he can see.

The gears are turning, and the established path is changing.

The boundless catastrophe that arose from a trivial hatred was contained in time, and the ashes burned away in the fire shone with a unique light.

The strategist of the underworld embarked on a fool's path that he should have missed, and an unexpected white rabbit, biting a flame, leaped from the darkness.

The miracle that sparked the great undertaking continues, and an 'protagonist' who shouldn't exist is stirring up the river of fate.

There is no doubt that everything is moving towards a broader path.

How wonderful! Therefore—

"Let me, the bystander, just stay..."

As the white-robed scholar spoke, the tall figure of the black-haired youth was gradually reflected in his gray-white pupils.

Everything is ready.

Unlike the expected Netherworld strategist and the unforeseen White Rabbit, this story does not require his intervention in any way.

All he had to do was observe and wait, record everything for the other party, and then—

—Looking forward to seeing how the other person will deal with this 'weight'.

……

Astral Plane, Kashinom Line, World Fortress.

"Cheers!!!" "Whew...one more time!"

"Haha, this is the first time I've ever drunk so much that I've really enjoyed it!"

"Alive... hiccup~! Ha, what a load of bullshit about a get-together, in the end I'm the only one who survived!"

The sounds of hearty drinking echoed from under the night sky. In the open-air meeting place filled with the strong smell of alcohol, groups of contractors gathered together, freely expressing their emotions.

Laughter, anger, tears... scenes like the myriad aspects of human life unfolded under the night sky. If you look closely, you'll even find that many contractors who are relatively resistant to alcohol are also here this time.

It wasn't that those who survived lacked resolve, but rather that the experience of suddenly being plunged into boundless darkness, cut off from the entire world, and trapped in a small outpost with only their companions and incommunicable war beasts, anxiously awaiting rescue in a state of constant fear that death might come at any moment, was simply too unbearable to dream about.

"Even though I was only in that environment for a few hours, it felt like I was in another world..."

"Well, to be honest, it's quite hard to get used to suddenly becoming the center of attention..."

In a corner, Liu Bing and the others, who were gathered together, looked at the contractors in the meeting place and the occasional glances cast their way, their eyes filled with emotion.

Unlike the others who chose to hide until rescue arrived, the pioneers who took the initiative to step forward and take over the elemental barrier bridging mission during the outbreak of the abnormal characteristics, and who persisted for more than an hour in the endless waves of abyssal creatures, were not given any special treatment by the Legion, even though objectively speaking, they could clearly feel that the way the black-armored soldiers looked at them on the way had changed significantly.

Of course, if we're really talking about things they don't adapt to, their side is actually doing relatively well, after all—

"Mr. Argo, are you free tonight?" "Your Excellency Argo, hello, this is Paradise Express..."

"Hehe~ Little Argo, I've heard about your heroic deeds. How about it, want to go to the clouds with me..."

"Senior Argo, please sign this for me..." "Hey, brother Argo, I heard you've become an outsider..." "Argo..."

It was a complete disaster.

At the dining table, Liu Bing and the others looked at the white-haired boy who was surrounded by people and looked helpless, and they all showed a look of pity.

As the only team to hold the Abyss Suppression Device with just a five-person squad, the white-haired boy was the first to light up the elemental light while everyone else remained silent, and even blocked the newly promoted extra-level echelon of the Great Sin Clan who held power for half an hour during the battle. The greetings and salutations he received were far more exaggerated than those on his side.

"Argo looks like he's about to cry." "I've seen more than one girl groping him."

"Although he's Black Sword's brother, Argo seems particularly bad at dealing with this kind of situation?"

"Speaking of which, where are the Star Maidens and the others? I remember they should be the ones to step up at a time like this, right?"

"Uh, I heard that the little girl from Death Paradise named Sia was seriously injured and is currently being cared for in the treatment area."

"This is really..."

Beneath the bustling assembly hall, Liu Bing and the others looked at each other, and finally, without prior agreement, glanced at the white-haired boy in the distance who had been forced to the point of blushing, and chuckled in unison.

"Speaking of which, it's been three days already, and we still haven't seen Black Sword and the others, and neither has that commander..."

After complaining for a while about the white-haired boy's 'tragic experience,' Mo Tian, ​​who was showing off a piece of Starry Beef steak and a rare dwarf spirit, looked at the huge warship in the distance and muttered to himself.

It has been almost three days since the outbreak of the anomalous characteristics ended. Although these people only returned to the fortress under the protection of the Legion fleet today, the pioneers and hunters, who are the most elite forces in the expedition, had already returned long ago and held a combat meeting to deal with the newly entered unknown world cluster.

"Tsk, do you think it's really like they say, that there's something even bigger waiting for us..."

"Well, it's really hard to say. If the legion isn't mistaken, that thing is the root of this incident. If something goes wrong, it feels like the worst-case scenario would be the least of our worries..."

"Alright, stop thinking so much. Don't forget about Black Sword and the others. We can talk after they get their results. Maybe we won't even need to do anything then."

Feng Huo waved his hand, indicating that there was no need for everyone to worry too much about things that were completely beyond his control. Liu Bing, who was standing nearby, nodded and smiled, then used his magic to refill everyone's glasses with ice before raising his glass and saying:

“That’s right! At times like this, instead of wasting our time on internal strife, it’s more appropriate to trust Black Sword and the others. So what we need to do is follow their advice, relax properly before the next war, and get ourselves into top condition!”

"Haha, Brother Liu Bing, well said! Come on, let's have a drink with you guys!"

"Thank you very much, Brother Bard! Cheers, everyone!!"

……

World Fortress, Blackthorn flagship, command center.

Ping!

The crisp sound of the bottle being opened rang out, followed by the sound of the liquor being poured.

"So……"

In the secluded rest area, the major, who hadn't slept for three days and three nights, looked at the black-haired youth and the others who hadn't rested either. Amidst the solemn atmosphere, he adjusted his glasses, filled his glass with a drink to stay awake, and said with a smile:

"Now, gentlemen, let us begin the 7th meeting for the operation against the Macrophage World Cluster."

……

(End of this chapter)